A grieving mother has told of the unbearable pain of losing both of her sons — 16 years after her younger child tried to save his older brother from cancer.
Amanda and Nick Pearce are facing the unimaginable task of burying their second child after 20-year-old Edward, affectionately known as Bunty, was killed in a road crash while changing a tyre on his way to work.
Edward died several days after a Mercedes Sprinter van struck him on an A-road. Despite his devastating injuries, he went on to save seven lives through organ donation.
For his parents, his death has brought back the pain of losing their firstborn, William, who died from leukaemia 14 years ago.
Edward Tried to Save His Brother
Edward Pearce, known to loved ones as Bunty, was killed after a Mercedes Sprinter van plogued into him as he changed a tyre
Edward’s parents Nick and Amanda pictured here with older brother William, who died of cancer 14 years ago
When William was battling cancer, his four-year-old brother Edward donated his bone marrow in the hope of helping him survive.
The brothers were exceptionally close.
Their parents recalled how William once refused to attend a radiotherapy appointment because he wanted to walk little Bunty into the operating theatre.
Edward also wore a bandana as a child because his brother had lost his hair during cancer treatment.
“Will and Bunt were so close,” Nick said. “Bunt always used to wear a bandana because Will had no hair after his cancer treatment. The two were inseparable.”
Despite Edward’s bone marrow donation, William died from the disease two years later.
The loss devastated the family, but Edward remained a source of strength for his parents.
“He carried us through everything,” Amanda said. “He didn’t know it but he pulled us through Will’s death and now we’ve got nothing, nothing left.”
Pictured: The two brothers Edward (right) and Will were described by their parents as ‘inseparable’
He Had Already Chosen to Become an Organ Donor
Edward grew up knowing how much his brother had suffered, and his experience shaped his own decision to become an organ donor.
He registered as soon as he was old enough and renewed his registration when he received his driving licence.
His father said Edward wanted to make absolutely certain his wishes were recorded.
“He didn’t want any chance of that not being on there,” Nick said.
After the crash, that decision ultimately allowed Edward to save seven other people by donating six organs.
Hospital staff later formed a guard of honour for him, recognising the young man’s final act of generosity.
Hundreds attended Edward’s funeral last month
‘It Just Doesn’t Feel Real’
Edward’s friends paid tribute to Edward at the funeral by riding endurance motorbikes, one of his favourite hobbies
Edward was working as a trainee plumber and had been looking forward to starting the next chapter of his life.
He had plans to move to Australia with his best friend Toby once he completed his qualifications.
His parents now have to confront the future they had imagined for their son disappearing in an instant.
“I don’t know how we carry on without him,” Amanda said. “It just doesn’t feel real. It doesn’t feel like the world could possibly be this cruel to take both of our boys.”
She added: “We’ve lost all the hopes and dreams of what his future was going to be.
“All the adventures we won’t get to do. All of the fun. All of the holidays, from the proposal to the marriage to the buying of the first house to the grandchildren.”
The family home, once filled with the memories of their children growing up, now feels painfully empty.
“We’ve got a house with a playroom, two spare bedrooms, and just nothing, nothing at all now,” Amanda said.
His Last Sunday Was ‘The Best’ He Had Ever Had
The final day Edward spent with the people he loved was, according to his father, an especially happy one.
An enthusiastic endurance motorcyclist, Edward spent the morning riding before meeting his girlfriend, Arabella.
The couple then went for a three-hour walk along the beach.
They had deliberately left their phones at home so they could focus entirely on each other.
Afterward, they went out for dinner.
Nick said his son described it as “the best Sunday he had ever had.”
The following morning, Edward left early for work in Brighton.
But shortly after setting off, he discovered that he had a flat tyre and pulled over on the side of an A-road.
He called his mother, who offered to help, but Edward insisted he could change the tyre himself because he was worried about arriving late for work.
It was the last conversation Amanda ever had with her son.
‘Why Has He Not Moved?’
Amanda later checked Edward’s location on her phone.
“I had Bunt on Find My Phone and I was just thinking why on earth has he not moved?” she recalled. “It can’t have taken that long.”
Then two police officers arrived at the family home.
Nick was working abroad at the time and was speaking to his wife on the phone when the officers appeared.
“My heart sank immediately,” he said. “At that point I just broke down because I knew it was going to be horrific.”
Amanda was taken to the hospital where Edward was being treated but was initially unable to see him because of the severity of his injuries.
“I just wanted to let him know I was there,” she said. “I didn’t want him to be scared.”
Edward had suffered catastrophic injuries in the collision, including the loss of part of his leg at the scene, and doctors were unable to stop the bleeding.
More than 50 people visited him during his time in hospital, while Arabella remained beside his bed for days, sleeping on a chair.
Edward died several days after the crash.
‘He Became My Everything’
Arabella described Edward as a gentle and extraordinarily generous young man whose death had destroyed the future they had planned together.
“Ed became my everything almost instantly,” she told the Daily Mail. “It wasn’t just his beautiful face but his amazing character. He was a gentle soul with a big heart and even bigger smile.”
She recalled how he regularly bought her flowers and collected her from work every evening.
The couple had dreamed of travelling together, including trips to Australia and America.
They had even joked about getting married in Las Vegas when they both turned 21, recreating the famous wedding scene from The Hangover.
They also shared a love of country music and had planned to drive along Route 66, buy cowboy boots and explore the United States together.
“I will endlessly grieve a future we were meant to have together,” Arabella said.
Hundreds Turned Out to Say Goodbye
Edward’s funeral drew hundreds of mourners.
His parents said it took around an hour and a half simply to get into the wake because so many people had come to pay their respects.
Some were friends and acquaintances, while others were people from the Heathfield area whom the family had never even met.
They told the Pearces how much Edward had touched their lives.
“Whether it was the supplier shop for his plumbing, his friends or just people Bunt had met, it was just a testament to his character because he had touched so many people with his heart,” Nick said.
Edward’s friends also paid tribute to his love of motorcycling by riding endurance bikes as part of the funeral procession.
Family Appeals for Information
The driver of the Mercedes van, a 31-year-old man from Bexhill, was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and drug driving.
He has since been released on bail.
Police are appealing for witnesses, particularly anyone who was driving past Edward’s stranded vehicle around the time of the collision or anyone with relevant dashcam footage.
The family are also raising money for the Children with Cancer Fund, a charity they say supported them following William’s death.
For Amanda, the grief is now inseparable from the unanswered questions surrounding the crash.
“We just need that man to know what he’s taken away from us,” she said.
“He was a good boy who was just trying to get to work at the beginning of the most exciting career and the most exciting life. He has taken that all away.”
The Pearces are now trying to find a way forward without either of their sons — while holding on to the memory of two brothers who, from childhood, remained inseparable.